Shloka 5
धन-निरुक्ति तथा गालवस्य गुरुदक्षिणा-प्रसङ्गः
Etymology of Wealth and the Gurudakṣiṇā Predicament of Gālava
मांसपिण्डोपमो5भूत् स मुखपादान्वित: खग: । गालवस्तं तथा दृष्टवा विमना: पर्यपृच्छत,आकाशचारी गरुड़ मुख और हाथोंसे युक्त होते हुए भी उन पंखोंके बिना मांसके लोंदे- से हो गये। उन्हें उस दशामें देखकर गालवका मन उदास हो गया और उन्होंने पूछा --
māṃsapiṇḍopamo 'bhūt sa mukhapādānvitāḥ khagaḥ | gālavastaṃ tathā dṛṣṭvā vimanāḥ paryapṛcchat ||
Con chim ấy—dẫu vẫn có mỏ và chân—nhưng vì mất cánh nên chẳng khác nào một khối thịt. Thấy Garuḍa ra nông nỗi ấy, Gālava buồn bã mà hỏi han.
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights compassionate attention and moral sensitivity: seeing a being reduced from its natural strength to helplessness, one should not be indifferent but inquire and seek understanding—an ethical impulse that precedes right action (dharma).
Nārada narrates that a bird (a sky-roamer) has become wingless and helpless, like a lump of flesh despite still having beak and feet. Gālava, saddened by this sight, questions him to learn the cause and meaning of the misfortune.